Best restaurant face lifts

Renovations are happening everywhere! Let’s give a round of applause to the finest upgrade done to a restaurant’s look in the past year or so.

Rancho Valencia Resort (5921 Valencia Circle, Rancho Santa Fe. 858-756-1123 or ranchovalencia.com), $30 million evidently does make a difference, $14.5 million more than Jeff Jacobs and his investment group paid for the Rancho Valencia property. A great deal of that seems to have been spent on the restaurant, Veladora, and bar, The Pony Room. I like Carnitas’ Snack Shacks’ (2632 University Ave. North Park. 619-294-7675 or carnitassnackshack.com) new bigger and better seating, hardly a renovation, more like upgrade. Now I can stretch out and can continue to enjoy all Chef Hanis Cavin’s porky good creations! — Andrew Spurgin, consulting chef and event architect, andrewspurgin.com

I see a lot of face lifts in San Diego (more Botox and nose reshaping than brick and mortar). The best I have seen this year is across the street from me on Beech Street. The old Santos Coffee House (3191 Thorn St. North Park. 619-640-3376) has been undergoing a massive Joan Rivers type of face lift inside. Not a renovation, but Buona Forchetta (3001 Beech St. 619-381-4844) is a new addition to the South Park neighborhood with a beautiful wood-fired oven and some hand-made pasta, great beer, of course, and real Italians making Italian food...go figure. — Ricardo Heredia, executive chef at Alchemy Restaurant

The 45-acre Rancho Valencia made U.S. News & World Report's list of top 10 hotels in the country. — Rancho Valencia

The restaurant and bar (Veladora and the Pony Room) at Rancho Valencia received a contemporary update this year and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens at La Valencia Hotel (1132 Prospect St. La Jolla. 858-454-0771 or lavalencia.com) and Rancho Bernardo Inn (17550 Bernardo Oaks Drive, Rancho Bernardo. 858-0675-8400 or ranchobernardoinn.com). Not coincidental that deep pocketed lodging eateries are the ones that are being redone. Usually places ride out a stale interior to the bitter end, then close. A restaurant that took over a spot in the last year and took it from ugly to charming is Table 926 (926 Turquoise St. Pacific Beach. 858-539-0926 or table926.com) in Pacific Beach. — Brandon Hernández, food writer (Twitter @offdutyfoodie)

When it comes to recent renovations, once of the most ambitious and well done is the Brigantine Del Mar (3263 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar. 858-481-1166 or brigantine.com). The restaurant is a San Diego favorite and has overlooked the Del Mar Race Track with the same nautical décor for years. Their recent renovation opened up the traditionally dark space and provided a wonderful deck to enjoy what San Diego is really known for, the weather. It’s always great to see a restaurant that we all know and love upgraded for a new generation of San Diegans to enjoy. — David Salisbury, a law firm’s director of business development, avid diner

Cusp Dining & Drinks at Hotel La Jolla -- courtesy photo

Cusp. It’s not just a projecting point between small arcs in Gothic tracery anymore. It’s also a newly designed poolside and penthouse dual sweet-bar and restaurant in the Hotel La Jolla. The penthouse bar and restaurant offer a stunning La Jolla Cove view. Tables for two, with both chairs facing the view, dot the clean-lined interior. Along with the impressive design, chef Donald Lockhart’s redesigned menu does justice to this stunning upgraded space. Word of advice: Go at sunset. — Charles Kaufman, baker, owner of Bread & Cie Café

I would have to say last year’s renovation at Rancho Valencia is the most notable. They just reopened in October after a $30-million transformation, which includes upgrades to their restaurants, Veladora and The Pony Room. They really did a nice job. — William Bradley, executive chef at Addison

I really enjoyed going back to the top of the Hotel La Jolla. They did a fantastic job remodeling this place and they will need all the help they can as it is easy to forget that a restaurant is located in this hotel. It has a great feel to it and no longer feel like a train wagon with a view, pretty good food and Kimpton will make a run at it! — Fabrice Poigin, private chef, restaurant consultant

The Pony Room Bar. — Eduardo Contreras / UT San Diego

I have already shown my love of the remodel of the Pony Room at Rancho Valencia but the remodel of their restaurant, Veladora is impressive along with the addition of their private wine dining room downstairs. I always had enjoyable experiences at Rancho Valencia but their face lift has taken it to a new level. — Randee Stratton, real estate broker, avid diner

Not necessarily a restaurant, but I was pleasantly surprised with the dining area at Ranch 99. I don’t go there often, but found myself there running an errand during my lunch break and decided to get something to eat from their hot foods area (they still have great daily specials for dirt cheap). The dining area did get an upgrade, nothing extreme, but it does look better compared to how I remembered it last. — Joanne Arellano, human resources professional, avid Yelper, avid diner

I have yet to visit but Spike Africa’s renovation of Payless won me over! — Jeff Josenhans, director of beverage outlets and sommelier at U.S. Grant Hotel